Holiday Sales Strategy That Doesn’t Suck (or Burn You Out)

Hey, it's Devin!

Moment of truth: You don’t need countdown timers, Canva chaos, or burnout to have a profitable holiday season. Here’s how to plan your Black Friday, Christmas, and NYE campaigns your way.

Let’s get one thing straight: you don’t have to follow the Black Friday circus to have a successful Q4.

Yep, I said it.

There’s a ton of pressure this time of year—flash sales, countdown timers, panic-mode planning—but here’s the truth: you can run holiday promotions your way. Whether you’re selling products, services, or a mix of both, you can show up with intention, strategy, and yes—ease. So if you’re not feeling the usual “OMG everything must go!!!” vibes, you’re not broken. You’re just ready for something smarter.

Let’s walk through what actually matters when prepping for the holiday season—and how to make it work for you.

1. Set Your Dates (Not Just Black Friday)

First of all, the whole damn quarter is a sales opportunity, not just that one chaotic Friday in November.

Key Dates to Know:

Black Friday – Nov 29
Small Business Saturday – Nov 30
Cyber Monday – Dec 2
Giving Tuesday – Dec 3
Christmas – Dec 25
New Year’s Eve – Dec 31

Here’s your permission slip: you can run a sale any damn time. Launch your promo a week early. Host a mid-December push. Drop a New Year’s flash sale when the inbox quiets down. You’re in control.

2. Product-Based Biz? Focus on These:

Gift Bundles: Group bestsellers or themed products into curated sets. Add bonus gifts or discounts to boost average order volume (AOV).
Shipping Deadlines: Make these clear and visible early. No one wants to guess when their gift will arrive.
Inventory Reality Check: Know what you have, what’s low, and what you can’t restock in time.
Gift Guides: Position your products as the perfect gift. Think: “For the friend who has everything,” “For your burnout bestie,” or “For your favorite entrepreneur.”

Bonus idea? Offer “slow gifting” options post-Christmas like printables, gift cards, or New Year’s themed boxes that ship later.

3. Service-Based Biz? Here’s the Move:

Pre-Sell 2026: Offer a discount or bonus for anyone who books now for services that start in January.
Holiday Packages: Wrap your offers into “end-of-year clarity” or “new year, fresh strategy” bundles.
Limited-Time Intensives: Promote quick-turn offers for folks who need fast wins before the year ends.
Digital Gifting: Create easy-to-share services people can gift (strategy sessions, digital templates, audits, etc.).

And don’t forget…you can pause bookings in December and still sell out January by creating urgency and structure now.

4. What Every Holiday Campaign Needs (No Matter Your Offer)

If you want your promo to convert, not just get lost in the scroll…you need more than a cute graphic and a discount code. Here’s what to plan for:

Your Holiday Sales Toolkit:

Clear Goal: Are you driving sales, email signups, bookings? Pick one main focus.
Defined Offer: What exactly are you selling? Make it juicy, time-sensitive, and easy to say yes to.
Timeline: Map out when you’re promoting—build in time for pre-launch hype, cart open/close, and reminders.
Messaging Strategy: How are you talking about this offer? Speak to your audience’s pain points and their December energy.
Content Plan: Think posts, emails, stories, countdowns—how are you showing up, and where?
Assets & Tech: Do you need landing pages, discount codes, automations, or shipping prep?
Back-End Boundaries: Decide your working hours, delivery timeline, and what you’re not doing to stay sane.

If you’re guessing your way through any of this? It’s gonna feel like chaos. Get clear first, then get loud.

5. You Don’t Have to Do It Like Everyone Else

You don’t need 17 Canva graphics, 8 emails, and a TikTok series to make money this season.

If something doesn’t feel aligned? Don’t do it.

Focus on:

Selling what’s already working.
Reusing content that converted in past years.
Connecting instead of shouting.
Resting when you need to.

You don’t need to go viral. You just need to be clear, consistent, and real.

Need a Plan That Actually Feels Good?

If you’re staring at the screen like, “Cool, but what does this mean for my business?”…I got you.

My Strategy Intensives are designed to help you map out a holiday (or Q1!) plan that fits your energy, your offer, and your audience, without overwhelm, burnout, or a Pinterest-perfect facade.

You’ll walk away with: